A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 993: Chapter 993: Pinnacle

Even through the window, everything could be heard clearly.

Xia Ruqing turned over in bed, murmuring.

”Emperor, don’t they ever feel cold!”

Kids seem to never be afraid of the cold!

She remembered when she was young, even on cold days, her grandmother wouldn’t let her run outside, but she refused to listen!

Even when she got frostbite, she’d still sneak out to be wild.

Back then she would cry and make a fuss, leaving her grandmother so angry she almost hit her with a broomstick.

Later, she grew up.

Once winter came, she was never willing to go out so easily.

Without heating, she would cling to her hot water bottle and hand warmer all day.

Then in the ancient times, with the Ground Dragon, she was even less inclined to go out.

Isn’t it even more comfortable than modern heating?

Ancient people, some of their wisdom truly rivals modern folk!

Zhao Junyao said.

”Let them freeze if they want!”

As long as his precious daughter doesn’t freeze!

Xia Ruqing thought about it too.

”Maybe they really aren’t afraid of the cold!”

Having said that, she stretched lazily.

”Emperor, have you decided what name to give Yue Er?”

Zhao Junyao was coincidentally thinking about this matter too.

He immediately said the few characters he’d chosen long ago and let Xia Ruqing pick.

”One is ’Tong’, another ’Luo’, ’Dan’, and ’Jia’...”

”Which do you think is good?”

Zhao Junyao actually thought they were all good, but unfortunately none could fully express the great expectations and affection he had for his daughter.

So he was very conflicted.

Xia Ruqing felt similarly about these characters.

She liked them all, but none made her eyes light up.

It felt like something was missing.

She frowned slightly.

”Emperor, you should decide!!”

She wasn’t good at naming.

Zhao Junyao began to worry again.

He lay back down, gazing at the ceiling of the canopy, lost in thought.

He thought for a long time but still had no result, growing increasingly anxious.

For the first time, he realized naming was so difficult.

The names for the previous children, even the three Princes born from Qingqing, were easy to come up with.

But when it came to his beloved youngest daughter, he was stumped.

He was terrified he would choose a name that would overshadow his daughter’s brilliance.

Brilliance?

Right, brilliance.

”Qingqing, how about calling Yue Er ’Yi Zhao’?”

”Reflecting the sun and moon, hoping my Little Princess will someday shine as bright as Zhao Yang, as radiant as the sun and moon!”

Xia Ruqing was dazzled upon hearing it.

”Yi Zhao?”

Princess Yi Zhao? It certainly sounds much grander than the previous ones.

Indeed, a princess’s name should be grand, this one is good!

”Emperor, let’s call her Yi Zhao!”

”Sounds wonderful!”

Grand and fluent to pronounce, a splendid name indeed.

Zhao Junyao laughed too.

”This name, I like it too!”

”Alright, Yi Zhao it is!”

...

Late in the winter of Jiayuan’s eleventh year.

The Emperor bestowed the grand name ’Princess Yi Zhao’ upon the Little Princess who was just eleven months old!

Early in the lunar month of Jiayuan’s eleventh year.

Approaching the Little Princess’s first birthday.

A royal decree that shocked the nation.

Issued from the Imperial Study Room in Zhaochen Palace, it passed through the Cabinet and was deliberated, then disseminated to the entire country by the Ministry of Rites.

Meanwhile, this decree was also sent to the Harem, read personally by Li Shengan.

Summarizing the intent of the decree:

’The position of the Central Palace has been vacant for too long, which is detrimental to the stability of the court and harem! Now in the palace, there is Noble Consort Xian, Lady Xia, from the Xia Family of Jiangnan, with a clean family background, gentle, kind and accommodating, mother to three sons and one daughter, contributing to the royal family with offspring, winning my heart! Now specially conferred as the rightful Empress of the Central Palace, overseeing the harem, assisting with palace affairs, educating the children, serving the monarch, expanding the royal family, and setting an example for all women of the nation, this is a decree!’

The decree was lengthy.

The wording was much more complex than this.

When Li Shengan finished reading.

Xia Ruqing’s legs were already numb from kneeling.

No, her entire being felt numb.

Her mind hadn’t had the chance to react.

Firstly, she didn’t quite understand the decree, secondly... the news was too shocking.

The word Empress was something she understood.

But... who could tell her.

What was going on?

Why did her Emperor husband suddenly bestow upon her the title of Empress?

She had envisioned many scenarios of becoming Empress?

Had thought of many ways to strive for it.

Unexpectedly, none were used, and the position of Empress just arrived like this.

Truly surprising.

”Noble Consort, oh no!”

”Empress, congratulations!”

Li Shengan respectfully handed over the decree.

Xia Ruqing, still numb, accepted the decree with stiff courage and thanked the Emperor’s grace.

After getting up, her whole body was still rigid.

It was Zi Yue and Zi Su who first reacted, happily calling for someone to bring purses for rewards.

After Li Shengan and others left.

Zi Yue, Zi Su and other servants enthusiastically gathered around Xia Ruqing.

”Empress!”

”Empress!”

”Salutations to the Empress!”

”Bow to the Empress!”

Everyone laughed and fussed as if possessed.

Amidst the joyful noise, Xia Ruqing finally slowly came to herself.

”I... am Empress now?”

This was too sudden, she couldn’t process it.

She was a Noble Consort just moments ago, now in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, she became Empress?

Incredible!

Simply incredible!

How should she adapt?!

”Empress, are you not happy?” Zi Su asked, blinking.

”Happy, of course I’m happy!”

Xia Ruqing’s voice was somewhat trembling.

Still like they said, a concubine who doesn’t aspire to be Empress is not a good cook.

Who likes to be a little wife to someone?

A big wife, a proper spouse, that’s much better.

Though now she faces the awkwardness of choosing little wives for her husband.

Yet she still feels being the big wife is best.

”But you didn’t like it before!” Zi Yue teased.

Xia Ruqing glared at her.

”Didn’t like it before because it was like saying grapes are sour just because I couldn’t have them, okay!”

In truth, deep down.

No woman willingly becomes a little wife, right?

Even if she doesn’t love the man.

When it comes to love.

Xia Ruqing didn’t dare to think further.

Emotions in ancient times were too distorted, she couldn’t identify what her feelings for Zhao Junyao really were.

Definitely not unloving.

But love is supposed to be one-on-one!

Too complicated, best not to think about it!

Xia Ruqing took the decree and went inside.

...

Outside the palace, in the Capital City and even across the nation, how tumultuous it was, wasn’t worth mentioning.

While in the harem.

Shortly after Li Shengan left Duanning Palace, the entire harem was in uproar.

Consort Hui was quite restrained.

She only instructed the palace attendants to mind themselves and refrain from gossiping.

Also, she had her personal maid prepare a congratulatory gift, ready to send to Duanning Palace when the time was right.

Other than that, there was no movement.

Over at Consort Cheng’s place, it was similarly quiet.

Having already raised the Second Prince, she had long since learned how to survive in the harem.

That is, to listen less, watch less, say less, and stir up fewer troubles.

So, her reaction to the news was similar to Consort Hui, preparing a congratulatory gift.

Over the consort ranks.

Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin said nothing, quickly preparing the gifts.

The most startled was Consort Shih Pin.

Upon hearing the news, she was completely stunned.